Good readers look beneath the plot. They ask how the author builds characters, mood and meaning.
Analysing a novel means looking at its parts. The plot is the sequence of events, the characters are the people, and the setting is the time and place. A narrator tells the story, in the first person (“I”) or third person (“he/she”).
Authors choose words and structure on purpose. Similes and metaphors make pictures, short sentences build tension, and foreshadowing hints at what is coming. To analyse, name the technique, give a quote, and explain the effect.
The plot of a novel is:
“I crept along the dark corridor” is written in:
The protagonist is:
Which sentence contains a simile?
Short sentences in a chase scene help to:
Foreshadowing is when the author:
Which is an example of third-person narration?
When analysing a technique, you should:
A metaphor is:
The setting of a novel includes:
Why might an author use a cliffhanger?
An argument is more than a shout. It states a view, gives reasons, and supports each reason with evidence.
A strong argument has a clear claim (your view), reasons that support it, and evidence such as facts or examples. Use linking words like because, therefore and for example.
In a debate each side takes turns. A good speaker listens, then answers with a rebuttal, politely saying why the other view is weaker. Using a counter-argument shows you understand both sides.
The claim in an argument is:
Which is the best evidence?
Which word links a reason to a claim?
A rebuttal is:
In a debate you should:
Including a counter-argument shows that you:
Which sentence gives a reason?
Which is a fact that could support an argument?
The best way to end a debate speech is to:
However, nevertheless and on the other hand are used to:
Which is a strong opening for an argument?
Colons and semicolons help sentences flow. Each has a clear job.
Use a colon (:) to introduce a list, an explanation, or an example. The part before the colon must be a complete sentence.
Use a semicolon (;) to join two closely related main clauses, or to separate items in a long list. Both sides must be able to stand alone as sentences.
Which sentence uses a colon correctly?
A semicolon can join:
Which is correct?
A colon is used to:
Which sentence has a punctuation error?
Semicolons can separate items in a list when:
Which punctuation introduces a list?
“The weather was awful ___ we stayed home.” Which mark fits?
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
A semicolon is stronger than a comma but weaker than a:
Which is NOT a use of a colon?
Not everything we read is true in the same way. Good readers can tell a fact from an opinion.
A fact can be checked and proved true or false. An opinion is what someone thinks or feels and cannot be proved. Opinion words include best, worst, should, beautiful and boring.
Writers can mix facts and opinions to persuade. Watch for bias, which means leaning unfairly to one side. A reliable source gives evidence, names its sources, and is written by an expert.
Which is a fact?
Which is an opinion?
Which word signals an opinion?
Bias means:
Which is the most reliable source about space?
“London is the biggest city in England, so it is the best.” This sentence is:
A fact is something that:
Which sentence is an opinion?
Which is a fact?
A balanced text:
To check a fact you should:
A persuasive essay tries to change the reader’s mind. It needs a plan and powerful language.
A persuasive essay has an introduction that states your view, several paragraphs that each make one point with evidence, and a conclusion that sums up and calls the reader to act. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence.
Writers use emotive language, rhetorical questions, the rule of three and direct address (“you”) to persuade. Combine these with facts so the essay is convincing, not just loud.
A persuasive essay usually ends with:
A topic sentence:
A rhetorical question is a question:
Which example shows the rule of three?
Which phrase is emotive?
Why should a writer think of the audience?
The purpose of a persuasive essay is to:
Which is direct address?
Each body paragraph should contain:
Which is the strongest conclusion?
Emotive language is used to:
Great writers revise. Editing improves the ideas; proofreading fixes the mistakes.
Editing improves the content: order, clarity, word choice and sentence variety. Proofreading is the final check for spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes. Do editing first, then proofread.
Read your work aloud and slowly. Check capital letters, full stops, spelling (especially homophones like their/there/they’re), verb tense, and whether each sentence makes sense.
Proofreading is mainly checking for:
Editing is mainly about:
Choose the correct word: “___ going to the park.”
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Which sentence keeps the same tense?
The best order of work is:
Which word is spelt correctly?
Which sentence has correct capital letters?
Reading your work aloud helps you:
“Their” in “Their dog is friendly” shows:
Which change makes this sentence more precise? “The man walked.”
Questions from every topic in this course. Pick an answer for each one, then hit Check My Answers.
“The wind howled like a wolf” is an example of a:
Why might an author use a cliffhanger?
Reasons plus evidence make an argument:
Which is a strong opening for an argument?
Which mark joins two closely linked sentences?
Which is NOT a use of a colon?
“This is the tastiest soup ever” is a:
To check a fact you should:
“Do we really want to lose our parks?” is a:
Emotive language is used to:
The final check for spelling and punctuation is:
Which change makes this sentence more precise? “The man walked.”